2 weeks Ago
Essex County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo Jr. presented awards to the nine winners in the Annual Essex County Parks Photography Contest on Oct.
11. The contest, sponsored by the Essex County Environmental Center and judged by members of the Essex County Photography Club, awarded winners in Adult, Youth and Professional categories. “We congratulate the winners of the Essex County Parks Photography Contest and thank all the contestants for sharing what they experienced in our historic Parks System,” DiVincenzo said.
“Events like these encourage our residents to visit our open spaces and share their artistic talents. All these photographs capture the beauty, highlight the diversity and natural splendor of our parks, reservations and recreation facilities.” In the Adult Category: John Shiever from Cedar Grove received first place for “Grover Cleveland Park” Beth Calamia Sheckel from Montclair received second place for “Branch Brook Park” John Levai from Upper Montclair received third place for “Yanticaw Park” Rachel Dykstra from Montclair received an honorable mention for “Kip’s Castle Park” In the Youth Category: Alexandra Barrios from Newark received first place for “Branch Brook Park” Thomas Carey from West Caldwell received second place for “Orange Reservoir” Asher Gamble from Bloomfield received third place for “Watsessing Park, Great Egret” Jayslin Cespedes from Newark received an honorable mention for “Prudential Concert Grove, Branch Brook Park” In the Professional Category: Arthur J.
Ballinger III from Cedar Grove received first place for “Verona Park, Sunrise” Anyone with a camera was encouraged to participate. Entries were judged on creativity, technical superiority, composition, and the photograph’s depiction of the uniqueness of the Essex County Parks System. All photographs were taken within the boundaries of the parks system during the past year and were on display at the Essex County Environmental Center during September and October.
Sponsoring the contest and providing prizes for the winners were the Essex County Photography Club, Madison Photo Plus, Milburn Camera, Jerry’s Artist Outlet, Green Point Juicery, Montclair Art Museum, The Learning Express, Glass Roots, Liberty Science Center, Paper Mill Playhouse and author Abigail Gross. The Essex County Park System, created in 1895, is the first county park system established in the United States. It consists of more than 6,000 acres and has 23 parks, five reservations, an environmental center, a zoo, and numerous recreational facilities.
* * * RECOMMENDED • nj .com Van Vleck House & Gardens to host fifth annual Scarecrows and Pumpkin Friends event Oct. 24, 2024, 1:43 p.
m. Essex County to host ‘Strut Your Mutt’ costume parades Oct. 22, 2024, 3:39 p.
m. Submit Essex County community news to [email protected] .
——— Generative AI was used to produce an initial draft of this story, which was reviewed and edited by NJ Advance Media staff..
